The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-07-09

crank From his books, one would think
him very jolly, jovial sort of fellow;
Both nv husband and [ endeayored to
persuade him to leave these people alone,
but to no purpose. Charlie had made up
his mind, and, having matured his plan OF
attack, sailed forth at eleven o'clock in the
evening, and made his way to Sea View
Villa
We awaited his return with considerable
anxiety. There was so much mystery at
taching to the house, and Mrs. Mort was
so eccentric in her behavior, that we really
felt afraid lest evil should befall him. 1t
was therefore no small relief TO us to hear
from him, and was delighted to see him
safe and sound, though looking rather pale.
"Well?" / asked anxiously.
ats all right" he answered. i've
seen him. But what q guy he is He
scared me out of my wits.
| took him up to my husbands study,
begged him to toll us all about what he had
seen, and how he had managed to come
face to face with our invisible parishioner.
"Yes," he answered but you must let
me smoke cigar while talk-my nerves
are rather shaken. You won't mind,
Mary ?"
/ gave my consent readily, and, when he
had lighted his cigar, he began;
Il knocked several times at the door be-
fore I got an answer from within. AT
last heard heavy step coming down
stairs, and presently gruff voice asked
me throuoh the spy hole, who | was, and
what wanted.
"I have come down from Jones, VIII
son & Cohorts publishers, you know,
| answered. 1T is on most important bust
ness. must see him at once
"'What is this bus nessF asked the
voice l repeated it is very important. !
have, besides, to hand him check
''The door was then opened, and lenteFed
a perfectly dark hall.
"Have you any matches about your
asked the woman, for woman | distin-
guished the person to be.
"'No,' I said
aWell, then, go In there, she said, push
ing me into room one side Of the passage.
This room was family lighted by what
looked like moonlight passing through
panes of red glass"
''The drawing room," l interrupted.
"You remember, John. Go on. Charlie"
at had most CHASTITY effect, I can tell
you, and began to regret having come,
The woman stood at the door for some time
without speaking.
cat last she said, 4 will send Mr.. Mort
down to you. But you must stay in the
dark. His eyes won't bear the light.
"With these words she went up stairs.
1 felt very uncomfortable, and began feel
ing in my pocket for light. [ cannot tell
ypR how glad was to discover couple of
lusees in the lining of Hy Waistcoat.
81 heard her walking slowly up the STAIRS,
and then in the room aboye NY head.
Then there was so4Rd of voices, as Of 2
man and woman talking, but could not
distinguish what was said very clearly.
The man seemed to ask, who is it? what
does he want 2 the wnman's answers were
inaudible.
aPresently heard steps on the stairs, a
heavy slow tread. It was Mr.. Mort On
the landing he began to whistle, and came
WnlStllnS INTO the ROOM.
II was sitting on a chair opposite the
door, and I saw him come in. 1t was q
tall stout figure, and what greatly surprised
me was that he wore a hat.
II could see neither his face nor his dress,
but | can assure you this tall, black figure,
wearing hat, was of no very comfortable
aspect as ! say it pass through that mys-
terio4s light.
"He crossed the room, whistlIng all the
while, and sat down with his back to the
window, the curtains of which he arranged
so as to completely conceal his person.
"'Well, what do you want?' he asked
in deep voice. 4 hope your business is
important. Otherwise you may get into
trouble for disturbing me at this late hour.
Come, what is it2
II had prepared my answer, and said,
Eve have had an offer Of two thousand
dollars from Whites of New York for the
advance sheet of your next novel. We are
to cable reply. have been sent down to
consult you, and, at the same time, to ask
you when it will be ready. We are very
anxious to get the manuscript in hand at
once.
fMr. Mort made no answer, and the per-
feet stiffness Of the house, the awful light
that shope through the window, and the
dim outline Of that mysterious figure among
the curtains, produced together an effect
that was decidedly unpleasant to my nerves.
1 decided that my joke had gone far enough.
But could not go away without seeing
our author; that would have been fiasco.
So dropped shilling on the floor, pre-
tended to grope for it, and struck fuse.
aWith cry that chilled me to the bones,
the figure sprang at me, with his arms out;
OF course | was not going TO stand any
violence, author or no author, so pushed
my chair in between his legs, and down he
came, such cropperl Meanwhile Irush-
ed out into the passage, opened the door
some how, and ran all the way here. And
jolly glad am to be out of the house."
'sBut didn't you see him after all ?"
cried.
sob yes, answered Charlie; II just had
glance as | dropped my fuse, when he
rushed at me. But that glance was quite
enough. It was Ike concentrated Bed
lam"
aWell, describe him to us, Charlie" said
my husband, who seemed as much interest
ed as myself was.
"a tall, fat man, with a red face, beard
less and whiskerless. He had a top hat
on. His hair was short and like rat tails"
"Johnl" Icried horror-stricken; "why,
that's Mrs. Mort"
aThis Is very serious matter" said my
husband. sit seems as if our first suspi-
cions We're correct. | hardly know what
to think. We must go round to Squire
Dale the first thing in the morning, and
tell him what we have heard. He is
magistrate and will know how to act.
aPerhaps she has murdered him." |
cried, "and has him in the house. Oh,
John, how horribler'
anon't jump at conclusions like that,
Mary" said my husband. II don't know